Website
Website Example
Supreme Court of the United States, Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954), https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/boundvolumes/347bv483.pdf (last visited Mar. 15, 2024).
Bluebook Citation Generator
Bluebook style is the standard citation format for legal documents in the United States, used primarily in law schools and legal practice. This citation generator follows The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (21st edition).
Law
What sources can you cite in Bluebook format?
- Cases and court decisions
- Statutes and legislation
- Regulations and administrative materials
- Law review articles
- Books and treatises
- Legislative materials
- International materials
- Websites and online sources
How to create Bluebook citations
Reference list citations
Bluebook citations vary significantly by source type. For cases: Case Name (italicized), Volume Reporter Page (Court Year). Example: Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954). For law review articles: Author, Title, Volume Journal First Page (Year). Example: Jane Doe, Legal Theory, 100 Harv. L. Rev. 1 (2020). Use standard abbreviations for reporters, journals, and courts. Include pin cites (specific page numbers) when referencing particular passages.
In-text citations
Bluebook uses footnotes for citations in academic work. First reference uses full citation format. Subsequent references use short forms: 'Id.' for immediately preceding source (italicized), 'Id. at [page]' for different page in same source, '[Author], supra note [#], at [page]' for earlier cited sources. In court documents (practitioner format), citations appear in the main text. Always include pin cites for specific references.
Bluebook Citation Examples
See how to format different source types in Bluebook.
Journal Article
Journal Article Example
John Smith & Mary Doe, Legal Research Methods, 45 Harv. L. Rev. 123, 145 (2024).
Book
Book Example
Charles Brown, Introduction to Law (3d ed. 2023).
Quick Bluebook Rules
Author Format
Last name, First name Middle name. Use '&' between authors in case names.
Title Format
Case names italicized. Article titles in quotation marks. Book titles italicized.
Date Format
Year in parentheses for cases. Include full date for statutes and regulations.
Journal/Source
Journal name abbreviated, volume number, journal name, first page, pin cite (year).
In-text Citations
Use full citations in footnotes. Short form citations use 'id.' or 'supra' for subsequent citations.
About this Bluebook citation generator
This citation generator formats references according to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (21st edition), the predominant legal citation guide in the United States. It supports both academic style (with footnotes) and practitioner style (citations in text). The tool covers cases, statutes, regulations, and secondary sources. For complex citations or jurisdiction-specific rules, consult the full Bluebook or your institution's style guide.
Expert-Verified Bluebook Citations You Can Trust
Incorrect citations cost you grades. Our Bluebook citation generator is built by formatting experts who've refined every algorithm for precision. Trusted by educators and students worldwide, we help you cite sources correctly the first time.
Tom Atkinson
Citation Expert
Garrett Becker
Style Specialist
Briggs Knight
Citation Developer
Common Bluebook citation mistakes
- Not italicizing case names and signals (e.g., 'see', 'cf.')
- Using incorrect reporter abbreviations
- Forgetting pin cites when referencing specific pages
- Confusing 'id.' and 'supra' usage for short form citations
- Not including court information when citing lower court cases
- Using '3rd' instead of '3d' for edition numbers
Bluebook Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bluebook citation style?
Bluebook is the standard citation format for legal documents in the United States, used in law schools and legal practice. It uses footnotes for citations.
How do I cite a case in Bluebook?
Include case name italicized, volume number, reporter abbreviation, first page, court abbreviation, and year in parentheses.
What are short form citations in Bluebook?
Short form citations use 'id.' for the immediately preceding citation, or 'supra' with a note number for earlier citations.
Does Bluebook require pin cites?
Yes, Bluebook requires pin cites (specific page numbers) for cases and statutes. Use 'at' before the page number.
Other Citation Styles
Last updated: December 2025 — Bluebook formatting rules.